tassel - Middle English Compendium

Middle English Dictionary Entry

tassel n.

Forms	tassel n. Also tassele; pl. tassel(e)s, tasselles, (late) tasshels & (?error) tarcellys.
Etymology	OF tassel & ML tassellus.

(a) A fastener or clasp for a mantle; (b) a tassel; (c) as surname.

c1330(?c1300) Guy(1) (Auch)5736 : Gij bi his mantel he drouȝ so, Þat þe tassels brosten ato.
a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)4389 : He drou, sco held, þe tassel brak, þe mantel left, he gafe þe bak.
c1475 Awntyrs Arth.(Tay 9)p.14 : The tassellus [Thrn: tasee; Dc: tasses] were of topeus, that was ther-to tiȝte.

c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)219 : A lace lapped aboute..Wyth tryed tasselez..tacched..On botounz.
(1406) Wardrobe Acc.Philippa in Archaeol.67175 : Cappe..cum..tassell de serico.
(1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)487 : Tassel [Win: Tassele]: Tassellus.
(1455) in Rymer's Foedera (1709-10)11.369 : A Mantel..Laced with Lace of Blue Silk, with Knopps and Tassells.
(1464) Doc.in Welch Hist.Pewterers Lond.30 : Item, iij Chaplettes of rede satyn with tasselles.
c1475 Wisd.(Folg V.a.354)p.115 : Here entrethe Anima..wyth a ryche chappetelot..wyth to knottys of golde and syde tasselys.
(1480) Wardrobe Acc.Edw.IV in Nicolas PPExp.125 : For the makyng of xvj laces and xvj tasshels for the garnysshing of divers of the Kinges bookes, ij s. viij d.
a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)620 : This mantell is nygh all redy of all that ther-to longeth, saf only tasselles [F tassiaus]..sende me thy beerde..and I shall hit sette on the tassels of my mantell.
a1525(?1455) Cov.Leet Bk.283 : For makeng of the same pensell & a tassell of silke, xiiij d.
(1459) Invent.Fastolf(2) in Archaeol.21272 : Item, j prikkyng Hat..Item, ij tarcellys on hym be hynde.